# Accident 19970806021269A: Robsin R22BETA, Willimantic, CT, August 6, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 6, 1997, 12:20 local time
- Place: Willimantic, CT
- Airport: Windham Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: FVGS
- Location: 41.7440° N, 72.1802° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WINDHAM (IJD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7440&lon=-72.1802&mi=10
- Aircraft: N717GT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N717GT-1999-06-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA (registry code 7640110, https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBSIN R22BETA
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 363 total, 357 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD97LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970806021269A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO ROTOR AND TAIL BOOM. (.4)THE STUDENT PILOT FLEW HIS FIRST TWO FLIGHTS WITH ANOTHER INSTRUCTOR.  AFTER PRACTICING VARIOUS MANEUVERS AND WHILE HOVERING AT ABOUT 10 FEET AGL WITH A NEW INSTRUCTOR, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ASKED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME AIRPORT TO PRACTICE AUTO ROTATIONS.  THE STUDENT PILOT TURNED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND BEFORE THE INSTRUCTOR COULD RECOVER.  THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THE INSTRUCTOR REQUESTED AN AUTO ROTATION FROM THEIR PRESENT LOCATION, AS HE HAD DONE ON HIS PREVIOUS FLIGHTS.  NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR OR THE STUDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD97LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA106), Aug 6, 1997: Robinson R22 Beta (N717GT), Willimantic, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot misunderstood the flight instructor's instructions and reduced the engine power to idle, and the Certificated Flight Instructor's delayed remedial action.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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